Qatar Informs UN Security Council, Secretary-General about Bahraini Aircraft Violations of Qatari Airspace
New York – Information Office – 24 December
The State of Qatar informed the UN Security Council and the UN Secretary-General about violations by four Bahraini fighter jets that penetrated Qatari airspace on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020.
HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani sent a letter to HE Permanent Representative of South Africa to the UN Ambassador Jerry Matjila, who is the President of the Security Council for this month, and to HE UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, which included an official notification by the government of the State of Qatar about Bahraini military aircraft's violations of Qatar's airspace over its territorial waters.
The letter expressed the State of Qatar's strong condemnation of this act, considering it a violation of its territorial integrity, sovereignty and security which blatantly inconsistent with the obligations of the Kingdom of Bahrain under international law, and an escalation that raises the tension in the region that Bahrain contributed to increasing through its participation in the unjust blockade and the unlawful and unjustified actions against the State of Qatar.
The letter further stated that it is not the first time that Bahraini military aircraft violated the State of Qatar's airspace, and that repeating such acts indicates a disregard for international obligations by the Kingdom of Bahrain that cannot be tolerated, calling on Bahrain to refrain from these provocative and irresponsible acts, and to adhere to UN Charter, international law, international conventions and rulings of the International Court of Justice.
In the letter, the State of Qatar appealed to the United Nations to take the necessary measures in accordance with the provisions of the Charter to put an end to Bahraini violations in order to maintain international and regional peace, security and stability.
Concluding, the letter affirmed the State of Qatar's commitment to promote good-neighborly relations and exercise the highest degree of restraint, stressing that the State of Qatar reserves the full right to respond to any violations in line with its sovereign right, and will take the necessary measures to defend its borders, airspace and sea as well as its national security, in accordance with international laws and UN Charter.